KR20230018911A - Optical Cable - Google Patents

Abstract

In order to identify between the optical units in a large-capacity optical cable including a plurality of optical units, the optical fiber ribbon itself constituting the optical unit, rather than the collection means of the optical fibers or optical fiber ribbons constituting the optical unit, is provided with identification, thereby providing identification to the optical unit. It is possible to distinguish between the ends of the fiber optic ribbon, distinguish the top and bottom of the fiber optic ribbon, and distinguish the plurality of fibers constituting the fiber optic ribbon at the start and end of the fiber optic ribbon during connection work, thereby preventing misconnection of optical fibers. It is about a high-capacity optical cable that can be used.

Description

Optical Cable {Optical Cable}

The present invention relates to an optical cable. More specifically, the present invention provides identification to the optical fiber ribbon itself constituting the optical unit, rather than the collection means of the optical fibers or optical fiber ribbons constituting the optical unit, in order to identify between optical units in a large-capacity optical cable including a plurality of optical units. During connection work, it is easy to distinguish between the start and end of the fiber optic ribbon, the upper and lower surfaces of the fiber optic ribbon, and the plural optical fibers constituting the fiber optic ribbon at the start and end. It relates to a large-capacity optical cable capable of preventing connection.

Recently, as the demand for high-speed communication increases, the demand for optical cable-based communication networks is also continuously increasing. The optical cable has a large bandwidth and a small weight and volume compared to the existing copper cable, so it is very advantageous in constructing a high-speed transmission network.

In order to build a large-capacity optical communication network, a plurality of rollable optical fiber ribbons 15 having a structure capable of rolling in the width direction assembled by bonding a plurality of optical fibers side by side inside a cable jacket or tube member of an optical cable are accommodated to form an optical cable.

Such a high-capacity optical cable 100 includes a plurality of optical units inside a cable jacket, and each optical unit may be configured by assembling a plurality of rollable optical fiber ribbons 15 as a collection means.

1 shows an example of a conventional high-capacity optical cable 100, and FIG. 2 shows another example of a conventional high-capacity optical cable 100.

The large-capacity optical cable 100 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 includes a plurality of optical units 10 inside a cable jacket 80, and each optical unit 10 includes a plurality of optical fibers 11. It can be.

As shown in FIG. 1, the plurality of light units 10 may be arranged in the cable jacket 80 without a central tension line, and as shown in FIG. 2, a central tension line C is provided around it. The light units 10 may be arranged in a circumferential direction.

In addition, the plurality of optical units 10 may be covered with a cable jacket 80 after being wrapped with one binding tape 50 or the like.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 , a reinforcing member 70 or the like for rigidity reinforcement may be embedded inside the cable jacket 80 instead of omitting the central tension line.

The reinforcing member 70 may be made of a material such as FRP, and may be provided by being embedded in the cable jacket 80 .

In addition, a rip cord 60 for removing the cable jacket 80 may be provided between the binding tape 50 and the cable jacket 80 .

In the case of a large-capacity optical cable 100, a plurality of optical units 10 may be provided. Each of the plurality of light units 10 may include a plurality of optical fibers 11 , and the plurality of optical fibers 11 may include at least one rollable optical fiber ribbon 15 .

That is, each optical unit 10 may be bundled together with one or more rollable optical fiber ribbons 15 to form the optical unit 10 .

The rollable optical fiber ribbon 15 refers to an optical fiber assembly in which a plurality of optical fibers are joined side by side in the width direction but can be rolled in the width direction. Therefore, it is often used to increase the space factor of the light unit 10.

Unlike the optical unit 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , one optical unit 10 may include dozens or hundreds of rollable optical fiber ribbons.

These optical units 10 should be able to identify between the optical units 10 at both end connections of the optical cable 100 . To this end, each optical unit 10 is identified by assigning a unique color to the assembly means of the rollable optical fiber ribbons 15 or by marking the assembly means.

The optical cable 100 shown in FIG. 1 is applied with a binder 20x as a means of collecting rollable optical fiber ribbons 15 constituting each optical unit 10, and the optical cable 100 shown in FIG. 2 is each The tube member 20y is applied as a means of collecting the rollable optical fiber ribbons 15 constituting the optical unit 10 of .

In this way, the binder 20x or tube member is used as a means of collecting the rollable optical fiber ribbon 15 constituting the optical unit 10, and the optical unit 10 is formed by the binder 20x or the tube member 20y. In the case of different colors for identification, binders 20x or tube members 20y of different colors should be applied according to the number of light units 10, and as the number of light units 10 increases, the binders ( It is not easy to infinitely diversify the color of the 20x) or tube member, and the matching operation between the binder 20x or the tube member 20y of different colors and the rollable optical fiber ribbons 15 gathered or accommodated therein is also difficult. As it is necessary, workability and ease of management may be deteriorated.

In addition, each rollable optical fiber ribbon 15 constituting the optical unit 10 may be printed with a barcode in the width direction spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the rollable optical fiber ribbon 15 for mutual identification.

An identification mark such as a barcode can distinguish the optical fiber ribbon 15 . However, the fiber optic ribbon 15 has a front/rear end and an upper/lower surface, so directionality exists during connection. ) and the lower surface (upper surface) may occur, and the above-described identification mark such as a barcode does not provide a function of distinguishing the front (rear end) and the front (rear end) of the optical fiber ribbon 15. .

In order to identify between the optical units in a large-capacity optical cable including a plurality of optical units, the optical fiber ribbon itself constituting the optical unit, rather than the collection means of the optical fibers or optical fiber ribbons constituting the optical unit, is provided with identification, thereby providing identification to the optical unit. It is possible to distinguish between the ends of the fiber optic ribbon, distinguish the top and bottom of the fiber optic ribbon, and distinguish the plurality of fibers constituting the fiber optic ribbon at the start and end of the fiber optic ribbon during connection work, thereby preventing misconnection of optical fibers. It is a task to be solved to provide a large-capacity optical cable that can be used.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention includes at least one rollable optical fiber ribbon including a plurality of optical fibers; and a plurality of optical units comprising; and a plurality of optical fiber collecting means for collecting the optical fiber ribbons; A cable jacket surrounding the plurality of optical units, wherein at least one optical fiber among the plurality of optical fibers included in each optical unit provides an optical cable composed of an identification optical fiber different from a basic optical fiber for identification of the optical unit. can do.

In addition, the identification optical fiber may be configured by adding a coating layer for identification color.

In addition, the identification color of the at least one identification optical fiber included in each of the plurality of optical units may be one of blue, orange, green, brown, dark blue gray, white, red, black, yellow, purple, pink, and jade. there is.

Here, basic optical fibers other than the identification optical fibers included in each of the plurality of optical units may be composed of colorless or achromatic colors.

In this case, all of the basic optical fibers included in the optical cable may have the same color.

In addition, each optical fiber of the plurality of optical fiber ribbons constituting each of the optical units may be composed of optical fibers of the same identification color.

In addition, among the plurality of optical fibers constituting the plurality of optical fiber ribbons constituting each of the optical units, some of the optical fibers may be configured as identification optical fibers, and the remaining optical fibers may be configured as basic optical fibers.

In addition, at least two identification optical fibers among the plurality of identification optical fibers constituting the optical fiber ribbon may be disposed adjacent to each other.

Here, a direction index may be provided on at least a part of an outer circumferential surface of the optical fiber ribbon to identify directions of the start and end of the optical fiber ribbon.

In this case, the direction index may be provided on the surface of the optical fiber ribbon by a printing method.

Further, the distance between the start and end of the optical fiber ribbon and the direction indexes adjacent to the start and end may be configured to be different.

In addition, at least one direction index may be provided with a plurality of at least one spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber ribbon.

Here, a plurality of the direction indexes form a direction index group, and each index group may be spaced apart from each other in the length direction of the optical fiber ribbon.

In this case, the direction index may be a mark having an asymmetrical shape or directionality in the length direction of the optical fiber ribbon.

Also, the direction index may have a polygonal, stripe, or curved shape.

Also, the direction index may have a triangle or a hexagonal shape in which one vertex is depressed.

According to the large-capacity optical cable according to the present invention, the optical units can be identified through the color of the optical fibers constituting the optical fiber ribbon, instead of distinguishing a plurality of optical units by the color of the tube member or binder, which is the collective means, and the like. Since an identification function can be provided independently, it is possible to identify an optical unit even when the collecting means is removed, and workability can be improved.

In addition, according to the large-capacity optical cable according to the present invention, since a direction index is provided to distinguish the start and end and upper and lower surfaces of the optical fiber ribbon constituting the optical unit of the optical cable, work convenience is improved and mistakes such as misconnection are prevented. There are effects that can be done.

1 shows an example of a conventional high-capacity optical cable, and FIG. 2 shows another example of a conventional high-capacity optical cable.
3 shows a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a large-capacity optical cable according to the present invention, and FIG. 4 shows one embodiment of configuring an optical unit with an optical fiber ribbon according to the present invention.
5 to 8 show plan views of various embodiments of a rollable optical fiber ribbon applicable to the high-capacity optical cable according to the present invention shown in FIG. 3 .
9 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a rollable optical fiber ribbon according to the present invention, and FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram of a normal connection situation and an erroneous connection situation at a connection end of a pair of optical fiber ribbons.
11 to 13 show plan views of various embodiments of a rollable optical fiber ribbon applicable to the present invention shown in FIG. 3 and the conventional high-capacity optical cable.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein and may be embodied in other forms. Rather, the embodiments introduced herein are provided so that the disclosed content will be thorough and complete, and the spirit of the invention will be sufficiently conveyed to those skilled in the art. Like reference numbers indicate like elements throughout the specification.

3 shows a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a large-capacity optical cable 100 according to the present invention, and FIG. 4 shows one embodiment constituting an optical unit 10 with an optical fiber ribbon according to the present invention.

An optical cable 100 according to the present invention includes at least one rollable optical fiber ribbon 15; and a plurality of optical units (10) comprising; and a plurality of optical fiber collecting means for collecting the optical fiber ribbons; and a cable jacket 80 surrounding a plurality of optical units, and at least one optical fiber 11 among the optical fibers constituting each optical unit 10 has a base color for identification of the optical unit. It may be composed of an identification optical fiber 11c having an identification color different from that of the basic optical fiber. As for the identification color, 12 colors (blue, orange, green, brown, dark blue gray, white, red, black, yellow, purple, pink, jade) for conventional optical fiber identification may be used, and the basic color is colorless (transparent, Translucent, opaque), achromatic colors, or conventional 12 colors for optical fiber identification may be used. Preferably, all of the primary optical fibers included in the optical cable may be of the same color.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, six light units 10 are provided around the central tension line c, and each light unit 10 is a tube member 20 as a means of collecting rollable optical fiber ribbons 15. ) shows the optical cable 100 to which it is applied.

Unlike the conventional optical cable 100, the optical cable 100 according to the present invention uses an identification optical fiber 11c as an identification means for identifying a plurality of optical units 10.

The optical cable 100 shown in FIG. 3 may be configured by accommodating 12 rollable optical fiber ribbons 15 composed of 12 optical fibers 11 in each optical unit 10 in a tube member 20; As a means, a binder such as binding yarn or binding tape may be applied, and since the identification optical fiber 11c is applied to identify an optical unit, the same color may be applied to the tube member or binder as a collection means, thereby reducing manufacturing cost and material It is easy to manage and workability can be improved.

In the optical cable 100 described above with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the binder 20x or the tube member 20y as a means for assembling the rollable optical fiber ribbon 15 constituting the optical unit 10 is colored. However, since matching between the collecting means and the optical fiber ribbons 15 is required, workability or productivity is poor.

Therefore, the present invention does not assign a color to the tube member as a collecting means constituting the optical unit 10 for the purpose of identifying the optical unit, and uses the optical fiber ribbon 15 or the optical fiber ribbon 15 accommodated inside the tube member. A method of assigning a color or the like to the constituting optical fiber for the purpose of identifying the optical unit is applied. The identification optical fiber 11c may include a coloring layer having an identification color.

The coating layer is provided on the outside of a clad layer surrounding the core of the optical fiber 11 to give the optical fiber 11 a color so that it can be identified with other optical fibers.

Therefore, the optical cable according to the present invention is provided with a coating layer having a different identification color for each optical unit, so that the optical unit can be identified.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 , each of the six light units 10 may be configured by changing the color of the optical fiber ribbon 15 .

That is, each of the 12 rollable optical fiber ribbons 15 included in one optical unit 10 is given a unique identification color, so that the operator can identify the color of the tube member as a collection means when identifying the optical unit 10. The optical fiber ribbon 15 can be distinguished by a method of checking only the color of the optical fiber ribbon 15 without worrying.

Therefore, even if tube members of the same color are applied, confusion of light units 10 is prevented, and matching between the tube members and light units 10 is not required when manufacturing or connecting cables.

In addition, light unit identification through the identification optical fiber is possible to identify the light unit independently of the collecting means as shown in FIG. 4 even after the position where the collecting means is removed.

In addition, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, identification optical fibers 11c are applied to each optical fiber constituting each rollable optical fiber ribbon 15, but if each optical unit 10 can be distinguished, all optical fibers 11c can be identified. It is not necessary to configure the optical fiber as the identification optical fiber 11c.

5 to 8 show plan views of various embodiments of a rollable optical fiber ribbon 15 applicable to the high capacity optical cable 100 according to the present invention shown in FIG. 3 .

Each of the rollable optical fiber ribbons 15 shown in FIGS. 5 to 8 is composed of 12 optical fibers, and only some of the optical fibers 11 among the optical fibers constituting the optical fiber ribbon 15 are identification optical fibers 11c.

In the optical fiber ribbon 15 shown in FIG. 5, only one of the 12 optical fibers is an identification optical fiber 11c, and the optical fiber ribbon 15 shown in FIG. The optical fibers shown in FIGS. 7 to 8 show an embodiment in which two and three identification optical fiber groups 11cg and a basic optical fiber group 11g are alternately arranged.

Since each optical unit 10 includes a plurality of optical fiber ribbons 15, and each optical fiber ribbon 15 is composed of a plurality of optical fibers, for identification of the optical unit 10, one optical unit 10 Even if only one optical fiber constituting one of the plurality of optical fiber ribbons 15 constituting the optical fiber ribbon 15 is composed of the identification optical fiber 11c, the identification of the optical unit 10 is possible, but since the diameter of the optical fiber is small, As shown in FIG. 3, it is preferable that at least one optical fiber of all optical fiber ribbons 15 constituting one optical unit 10 is configured with an identification color so that the optical unit 10 can be easily identified.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 5, when only one outer optical fiber constituting one optical fiber ribbon 15 is constituted as an identification optical fiber 11c, the identification optical fiber ( Since 11c) is not disposed outside the rollable ribbon in a rolled state, it may be impossible to distinguish the light unit 10 by identification.

Therefore, it is not necessary to configure all the optical fibers constituting one rollable optical fiber ribbon 15 with identification colors, but among the optical fibers constituting the optical fiber ribbon 15, a plurality of optical fibers are configured with identification colors, and a plurality of identification optical fibers As for (11c), as shown in FIGS. 5 to 8, a method of arranging the basic optical fibers or groups thereof to be spaced apart is preferable.

That is, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, at least two identification optical fibers 11c among the plurality of identification optical fibers constituting the optical fiber ribbon 15 may be adjacently disposed to form an identification optical fiber group 11cg. Furthermore, the identification optical fiber group 11cg and the basic optical fiber group 11g may be alternately arranged.

If the identification optical fiber group 11cg is formed by grouping a plurality of identification optical fibers 11c, which are parts of a plurality of optical fibers constituting one optical fiber ribbon 15, an effect of improving the visibility of the optical fibers of the operator can be obtained.

Also, the number of optical fibers constituting the identification optical fiber group 11cg and the basic optical fiber group 11g may not be the same.

9 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a rollable optical fiber ribbon according to the present invention, and FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram of a normal connection situation and an erroneous connection situation at a connection end of a pair of optical fiber ribbons.

In addition, optical fibers provided on both outermost sides in the width direction among a plurality of optical fibers 11 included in one rollable optical fiber ribbon 15 can be identified through the arrangement of identification optical fibers. As shown in FIG. 9, when the number of optical fibers on one side in the width direction of a rollable optical fiber ribbon including n optical fibers 11 is number 1 and the number of optical fibers on the other side is number n, number 1 to n When the optical fibers are arranged side by side up to , the upper and lower surfaces may be defined or distinguished. When the rollable ribbon 15a to which the identification optical fiber is applied to the first or nth optical fiber is collectively connected with other ribbons 15b, identification of the first or nth optical fiber is performed as shown in FIG. 10(a). It is possible to prevent misconnection as shown in FIG. 10 (b), which occurs when the upper and lower surfaces are not distinguished, and the network between both ends of each optical fiber included in the rollable ribbon and connected equipment and additional connection media. It can also be used to check configuration.

11 to 13 show plan views of various embodiments of a rollable optical fiber ribbon 15 applicable to the present invention and the conventional high-capacity optical cable 100 shown in FIG. 3 .

Specifically, FIG. 11 shows an example in which the direction index di has a rectangular shape, FIG. 12 shows an example in which the direction index di has a triangular shape, and FIG. 13 shows an example in which the direction index di has a single shape. An example of a hexagon with recessed corners is shown.

As described above, each fiber optic ribbon 15 has a start end (fe) and end (re), and the end (re) and start end of a pair of optical fiber ribbons to be connected must be connected.

However, a mistake in connecting the start end (fe) (end (re)) and start end (end (re)) of the fiber optic ribbon 15 may occur due to a worker's mistake, and the above-described identification mark such as a barcode may occur. There is a problem in that the function of distinguishing between the start end (fe) (end (re)) and the start end (fe) (end (re)) of the optical fiber ribbon 15 is not provided.

Therefore, the optical cable 100 according to the present invention may have a direction index di in the optical fiber ribbon 15 constituting the optical unit 10 of the optical cable 100 .

The direction index di may be a mark for direction identification that is applied to the surface of the optical fiber ribbon 15 by a printing method. The direction index di may be configured in various shapes such as a polygon or a stripe. If the direction index di is a mark having an asymmetrical shape or directionality in the length direction of the optical fiber ribbon, the shape may be variously changed.

The direction index di of the embodiment shown in FIG. 11 may have a quadrangular shape as an example of a polygon.

In addition, a plurality of direction indices di may be formed in a group and arranged adjacently, but each group may be configured to be spaced apart in the length direction of the optical fiber ribbon 15 .

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 11 , the direction index group dig is composed of two direction indexes di, and each group may be spaced apart from each other in the length direction of the optical fiber ribbon 15.

Further, each of the direction indexes di or direction index groups dig may be provided with different distances from the start end fe and end re of the optical fiber ribbon 15 .

That is, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 11 , each direction index group dig may be configured to have different lengths between the start end fe and end re of the optical fiber ribbon 15 .

That is, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 11, the distance d1 between the start end (fe) of the optical fiber ribbon 15 and the adjacent index group is the distance d1 between the end (re) of the optical fiber ribbon 15 and the adjacent index group. It is configured to be smaller than the distance d2 so that the operator distinguishes the start end (fe) and end (re) of each fiber optic ribbon 15, and the end (re) and start end (fe) of both fiber optic ribbons 15 to be connected, respectively. Since the connection is possible, it is possible to prevent a mistake in connecting the start ends fe to the start ends fe or the ends re and ends re of the optical fiber ribbon 15.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 11, the start end (fe) or end (re) of the fiber optic ribbon 15 and the distances (d1, d2) between adjacent index groups are used to connect the start end (fe) and end of the fiber optic ribbon (15). Although the direction of (re) is determined, the distances (d1, d2) between the start (fe) or end (re) of the fiber optic ribbon 15 and the adjacent index groups in the case of operator's negligence or cutting of the fiber optic ribbon 15 is subject to change.

Therefore, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 12 or 13, the direction index di is further configured in the form of an isosceles triangle or a hexagon in which one vertex is depressed by giving the direction index itself to the shape of the direction index di.

12 and 13, the shape of the direction index di along with the distances d1 and d2 between the start end fe or end re of the optical fiber ribbon 15 and the adjacent index groups. Through this, the direction of the start end (fe) and end (re) of the optical fiber ribbon 15 can be more accurately identified, and the end (re) and start end (fe) of both optical fiber ribbons 15 to be connected can be accurately connected, respectively.

In this way, the large-capacity optical cable 100 according to the present invention does not distinguish the plurality of optical units 10 by the color of the tube member or binder 20x, which is a collecting means, and the color of the optical fibers constituting the optical fiber ribbon 15. The optical unit 10 can be identified through the light, and a direction index di is provided to distinguish the start (fe) and end (re) of the optical fiber ribbon 15, thereby improving work convenience, misconnection, etc. has the effect of preventing mistakes.

Although this specification has been described with reference to preferred embodiments of the present invention, those skilled in the art can variously modify and change the present invention within the scope not departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention described in the claims described below. will be able to carry out Therefore, if the modified implementation basically includes the elements of the claims of the present invention, all of them should be considered to be included in the technical scope of the present invention.

100: optical cable
10: light unit
11: optical fiber
11c: identification fiber
15: fiber optic ribbon

Claims (17)

at least one rollable optical fiber ribbon including a plurality of optical fibers; and a plurality of optical units comprising; and a plurality of optical fiber collecting means for collecting the optical fiber ribbons;
Including; a cable jacket surrounding a plurality of light units,
At least one optical fiber among the plurality of optical fibers included in each optical unit is composed of an identification optical fiber different from a basic optical fiber for identification of the optical unit. According to claim 1,
The identification optical fiber is an optical cable, characterized in that configured by adding a coating layer for identification color. According to claim 1,
The identification color of the at least one identification optical fiber included in each of the plurality of light units is one of blue, orange, green, brown, dark blue gray, white, red, black, yellow, purple, pink, and jade. optical cable to do. According to claim 3,
The optical cable according to claim 1 , wherein basic optical fibers excluding the identification optical fibers included in each of the plurality of optical units are composed of colorless or achromatic colors. According to claim 4,
An optical cable, characterized in that all of the basic optical fibers included in the optical cable have the same color. According to claim 1,
An optical cable, characterized in that each optical fiber of the plurality of optical fiber ribbons constituting each of the optical units is composed of optical fibers of the same identification color. According to claim 1,
An optical cable, characterized in that some of the optical fibers constituting the plurality of optical fiber ribbons constituting each of the optical units are composed of identification optical fibers and the remaining optical fibers are composed of basic optical fibers. According to claim 7,
The identification optical fiber and the basic optical fiber are alternately arranged. According to claim 7,
At least two identification optical fibers among the plurality of identification optical fibers constituting the optical fiber ribbon are disposed adjacent to each other. According to claim 1,
An optical cable according to claim 1 , wherein a direction index is provided on at least a part of an outer circumferential surface of the optical fiber ribbon so as to identify directions of a start end and an end of the optical fiber ribbon. According to claim 10,
The optical cable, characterized in that the direction index is provided on the surface of the optical fiber ribbon by a printing method. According to claim 10,
The optical cable, characterized in that the distance between the start and end of the optical fiber ribbon and the direction indexes adjacent to the start and end are different. According to claim 10,
The optical cable according to claim 1 , wherein at least one direction index is provided in plurality and is spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber ribbon. According to claim 13,
The plurality of direction indexes form a direction index group, and each index group is spaced apart in the length direction of the optical fiber ribbon. According to claim 10,
The direction index is an optical cable, characterized in that the mark having an asymmetrical shape or directionality in the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber ribbon. According to claim 13,
The optical cable, characterized in that the direction index has a polygonal, stripe or curved shape. According to claim 16,
The optical cable, characterized in that the direction index is a triangle or a hexagonal shape in which one vertex is depressed.

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